Blood Pheasant
Ithaginis cruentus
The Blood Pheasant (Ithaginis cruentus) is a rare partridges, pheasants, grouse, and alli found in 5 countries, weighing about 531 g. The blood pheasant or blood partridge is a galliforme bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae and the only species in the genus Ithaginis.
About the Blood Pheasant
The blood pheasant or blood partridge is a galliforme bird in the pheasant family Phasianidae and the only species in the genus Ithaginis. It is a relatively small, short-tailed pheasant that is widespread in the lower Himalayas ranging across North and East India, Nepal, Bhutan, South China and northern Myanmar. It has been classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List since 2009, and the global blood pheasant population is thought to be stable.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
The blood pheasant has the size of a small fowl, about 17 in (43 cm) in length with a short, convex, very strong black bill, feathered between bill and eye, and a small crest of variously coloured feathers.
Where it lives
When to see it
Best months: March, April, May, June, November, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Blood Pheasant?
- The blood pheasant has the size of a small fowl, about 17 in (43 cm) in length with a short, convex, very strong black bill, feathered between bill and eye, and a small crest of variously coloured feathers.
- How big is a Blood Pheasant?
- The Blood Pheasant is a large sized bird weighing about 531 g.
- Where can you see a Blood Pheasant?
- The Blood Pheasant occurs in 5 countries, including Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Myanmar (Burma).
- What birds look similar to a Blood Pheasant?
- The Blood Pheasant is most easily confused with the Crimson-headed Partridge, the Green Junglefowl and the Mikado Pheasant.
- Is the Blood Pheasant endangered?
- The Blood Pheasant is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Blood Pheasant for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
Play BeakBrainEvery photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.